Manziel says he's not ready for opener ... yet BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Johnny Manziel, so full of swagger and cool, understands his limitations. He's only a rookie. And as the celebrity quarterback prepares for Cleveland's exhibition on Monday night in Washington, a game that could decide whether he or Brian Hoyer starts the season opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, Manziel acknowledged he's still got a lot to learn. "I don't think I'm ready for Pittsburgh right now," he said. Manziel, though, wa...

With passing trend, is Peterson last great back? MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Jim Brown spinning his way through the line and breaking loose in the secondary with a burst of speed. Walter Payton lowering a stiff arm and tearing away from the tackler with those long, almost-straight-leg strides. Barry Sanders slithering around in the backfield and finding a seam to dart through. Those are the enduring images of grit, perseverance and even elegance on which the NFL's multibillion-dollar empire was fi...

LR TD Club announces slate of fall speakers LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema will kick off this fall's series of speakers before the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Aug. 19. The group on Wednesday unveiled a list of 16 events, including visits by former Chicago Bears player Mike Singletary on Sept. 9, Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long on Sept. 15 and Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson on Oct. 27. Also on the list is the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame inductio...

RPD Boxing to host cookout fundraiserThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) Boxing Club will host a community-wide cookout at Old Post Park on Aug. 16 to help raise funds for its continued operation. The club, which offers free boxing lessons for kids ages 7 to 17, is an officially recognized nonprofit, USA Boxing organization run by Forca Martial Arts and Fitness of Russellville. Forca, which also offers kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for adults and Mixed Martial A...

Hall’s NFL career continues on as Indianapolis ColtINDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Just over 48 hours after being cut from the Minnesota Vikings, former Russellville Cyclones lineman Matt Hall was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. Hall was unfazed by the free agent shuffle and never lost his hope that he would be playing professional football somewhere before too much longer. “I’m just waiting on a call,” Hall said in an interview on Saturday, moments before he was contacted by the Colts. “I’m going to s...

Cooler weather brings about thoughts of huntingYes, it is late July, but it has been anything but typical as we have seen some of the coolest temperatures on record and a good number of folks already have hunting season on their mind. Dove season is quickly approaching. I know a few hunters who have taken advantage of the cool weather by doing a little squirrel hunting which opened on May 15 and stays open until the end of Feb. July is normally a month of tremendous heat and a few days spe...

When in doubt, just use common courtesyYou’re throwing your favorite chartreuse and white spinner bait along your favorite bank in the lake. The next section of bank is really your favorite. There are three tree-tops that you’ve caught countless bass in and just last week you had one break off with your favorite lure. You can see the tops in the distance and you’re really just killing time until you get there. A boat appears out of nowhere and pulls in a hundred yards down the bank...

Vikings cut former Cyclone HallThe Minnesota Vikings waived former Russellville Cyclones lineman Matt Hall alongside former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cooper after the first day of team camp. The pair dutifully reported for camp Thursday and walkthroughs Friday but were cut by the end of practice. “It was just a numbers thing,” Hall said. “We had an injured player and they needed to pick a few guys to fill his role, so numbers is what got me.” Hall, who also played...

A perfect week for TBF High School World FinalsJust as youngsters from all across the nation and world are starting to convene, mother nature threw a curve ball at the Arkansas River Valley that is sure to be appreciated by everyone associated with the 2014 TBF High School world Finals. Typical hot July weather was expected by all, but as the competition got underway on Wednesday the participants were greeted with fall-like weather that may or may not affect the fishing, but will definitel...

Get the lead out, pleaseI received a couple of emails the other day stating that the nation’s last primary lead smelting plant (those guys that produce lead for ammunition) was shuttered at the end of 2013. It was a back door effort by our nation’s current liberal administration for gun control, the email stated. Apparently, The Doe Run Company located in Missouri was shut down because of stringent EPA regulations that it couldn’t afford to adhere to. Since I can’t f...

Lake Dardanelle’s bestAll across the Arkansas River Valley the fishing is heating up and regardless of what type of fish you are looking for Lake Dardanelle may very well be the hottest lake in the natural state! Catfishing on Dardanelle is currently second to none, especially below the dam, as there may be no better place in the entire state to catch catfish and when you see crowds of people there, that means the bite is on. Giant spoon billed catfish are being re...

Hall suits up with Minnesota Vikings in preseasonAt 6’9 and 326 pounds of solid muscle, former Russellville Cyclone Matt Hall looks the part of an NFL lineman. Frankly, he looks like he could lift a car over his head if he felt like it. Handy if you’re going to be shoving around the best defensive linemen and linebackers the NFL has to offer. Hall was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings in free agency after the 2014 draft and has survived the first round of cuts. He’s on the team — although h...

LeBron James says he's returning to Cavaliers CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is returning home to Ohio, reversing the decision he made four years ago that led to two NBA titles in Miami and crushed Cleveland Cavalier fans. James told Sports Illustrated for a story published Friday that he was signing with the Cavaliers because his relationship with Northeast Ohio is "bigger than basketball." "When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission," James said in the SI first-person story. "I was seekin...

Lake Degray: The ultimate getawayOutdoor enthusiasts are always looking for that special getaway place that not only provides the activities that they love, but will also provide plenty of fun and activities for the entire family as well. Throughout the years, and all my travels to various towns, lakes, tournaments and tournament sites, there is one travel destination that has always stood out for me. That spot is Lake Degray just outside of Arkadelphia and just a few miles s...

Summer perfect for looking back, aheadJuly is the perfect time to start the countdown until hunting season begins. Yes, it’s only 83 days until deer season begins, the toughest days of the summer. While our summer has been unseasonably cool so far, I can’t but help imagine that’s all about to change. It’s the perfect time to think back on an unseasonably warm afternoon in January. I could hear the sounds of hooves in the muddy logging trail that dissected the woodlot I was hunting...

Roller derby returns to RussellvilleThe Russellville Roller Girls may not be the first group of ladies who tried to bring roller derby to the Russellville area, but they might be the closest to succeed. The Roller Girls see themselves as being recognized by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) by the end of the year — but there’s still plenty to do. The international governing body of women’s flat track roller derby, the WFTDA has several requirements before a team c...

6.98 pound bass wins $50,000LITTLE ROCK — After competing in the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza, Steve Scherrey took home the big prize this year. The 6.98 pound bass he caught in the 8:00 hour on Saturday in the Dumas pool lifted him over one-day leader William Fitzgerald’s 6.87 pound fish in the Dardanelle pool. Scherrey is taking home $50,000 for his efforts. Scherrey beat out 2,277 other anglers to win the grand prize. This is his second time to take home the overall priz...

Nothing better than summer school in JulyNow, now, don’t get all excited and start thinking that I am talking about actually going to school during the summer, instead I am referring to the throngs of fish who will take to the top of the water in search of bait fish and provide you with some of the best fishing action you could ever imagine Without doubt, summertime has made its way to the Arkansas River valley with both area anglers and the fish feeling the effects. Summer heat take...

The excitement of bow huntingI love everything about bow hunting. The challenge, the equipment, the practicing, the magazines, the catalogs, the stories, the excitement of a miss, the thrill of a good shot — every single element I love. Perhaps my passion for the bow hunter narrows my view of the rest of the hunting world but that’s just the way it is. It’s much like the ink that this newspaper was printed on; it’s deep in my blood. It could be that the first deer I every...

Wie leads rain-delayed NW Arkansas Championship ROGERS (AP) — Whether it's because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career. Wie continued her season-long surge on the LPGA Tour on Saturday, shooting her second straight 5-under 66 to take a two-shot lead in the suspended second round of the NW Arkansas Championship. The performance put the U.S. Women's Open champion within a round of back-to-back w...